2014 SPECIAL SESSION I

INTRODUCED REPRINT

14200201D INTRODUCED 1 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5102 2 Offered June 10, 2014 3 Celebrating the life of the Honorable Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr. 4 ±±±±±±±±±± Patrons±±DeSteph, Adams, Albo, Anderson, Austin, Bell, Richard P., Berg, Bloxom, Byron, Campbell, Cline, Cole, Comstock, Davis, Fariss, Fowler, Garrett, Gilbert, Greason, Habeeb, Helsel, Hodges, Hope, Hugo, Ingram, Joannou, Jones, Keam, Kilgore, Knight, Kory, Landes, LaRock, Leftwich, Lingamfelter, McQuinn, Miller, Morefield, Morrissey, O©Bannon, O©Quinn, Plum, Pogge, Poindexter, Ramadan, Rasoul, Robinson, Rush, Scott, Spruill, Stolle, Tyler, Ware, Watts, Webert, Yancey and Yost; Senators: Barker, Deeds, Edwards, Favola, Garrett, Howell, Marsden, Norment, Petersen, Ruff, Stuart and Wagner 5 ±±±±±±±±±± 6 WHEREAS, the Honorable Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr., of Virginia Beach, a proud and loyal veteran 7 and a former Senator, died on March 28, 2014; and 8 WHEREAS, a native of Mobile, , Jeremiah Denton graduated from the United States Naval 9 Academy in 1946 and earned a master©s degree from George Washington University in 1964; and 10 WHEREAS, while serving as a commander in the during the War, 11 Jeremiah Denton was captured by enemy forces when his bomber was shot down in 1965; a strong and 12 courageous soldier, he endured incredible hardship as a prisoner of war over the next seven years; and 13 WHEREAS, as one of the highest-ranking officers to be taken prisoner, Jeremiah Denton bolstered 14 morale among the other prisoners by maintaining a high degree of professionalism and pride in his 15 country; he helped institute a secret communication system among his fellow prisoners and famously

16 blinked in Morse Code during a North Vietnamese propaganda film; and HJ5102 17 WHEREAS, during in 1973, Jeremiah Denton was the first freed prisoner of 18 war to step off the plane at a United States air base in the , becoming the face of the 19 sacrifice, defiance, and patriotism exhibited by each of his fellow prisoners of war; and 20 WHEREAS, after the war, Jeremiah Denton became the commandant of the Armed Forces Staff 21 College in Norfolk, and he continued to proudly serve in the United States Navy until his retirement as 22 a rear admiral in 1977; and 23 WHEREAS, in recognition of his valorous service, Jeremiah Denton was highly decorated throughout 24 his military career, earning the Navy Cross, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, three Silver Stars, 25 the Distinguished Flying Cross, and several other decorations; and 26 WHEREAS, in 1980, Jeremiah Denton made history as the first Republican to represent Alabama in 27 the since the ; and 28 WHEREAS, as a United States Senator, Jeremiah Denton worked to enact important legislation 29 related to the preservation of traditional American values and offered his wisdom and experience to a

10:56 30 subcommittee on internal security and terrorism; and 31 WHEREAS, after completing his elected service, Jeremiah Denton moved to Williamsburg and 32 remained active in public affairs as a speaker; a man of conviction, integrity, and mettle, he served the

2/24/18 33 nation with distinction; and 34 WHEREAS, predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Jane, Jeremiah Denton will be fondly remembered 35 and greatly missed by his wife, Mary; children, Jerry, Bill, Don, Jim, Madeleine, Michael, and Mary 36 Beth; numerous other family members and friends; and colleagues on both sides of the aisle; now, 37 therefore, be it 38 RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby 39 note with great sadness the loss of the Honorable Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr., a loyal veteran and a former 40 United States Senator; and, be it 41 RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution 42 for presentation to the family of the Honorable Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr., as an expression of the General 43 Assembly©s respect for his memory.